By Vishal Batra, a CTO at a global airlines company, asked a straight question, “For those working in corporate sector where the goal is to maximise profits and overcome competition…how to practice Nishkam Karma and bring harmony between my career and the spiritual growth?”
There are many of us like Vishal who are always in a mental mix-up. Some would eventually give-in to their worldly responsibilities and leave the inner voice unheard. While others may work half-heartedly, under a constant guilt of missing the spiritual growth. If you find yourself in either of the above categories, congratulations! This confusion, although raised by one, is housed by many. We either delay the pursuit of spirituality or struggle to strike a balance between our spiritual and professional lives.
Epics like Ramayan and scriptures like Bhagavad Gita have spoken widely about this innate question of every thoughtful mind. The Sanskrit texts have been interpreted in several forms, each one giving a special mention of the Karma Yoga. Our eternal “confusion of balance” can only be answered by a sincere understanding of this daily essential principle – the Karma Yog.
Let’s understand how to apply Karma Yog, step-by-step.
Step 1 – Recognise your Swa-Dharma
In her answer to Vishal’s question, Sri Guru spontaneously explained a flaw. At our core, we wrongly believe that spirituality teaches withdrawal. Spirituality never teaches withdrawal. It teaches you to recognise your Swa-Dharma and focus your energy towards that cause. Spirituality doesn’t teach withdrawal, it talks only about cutting distractions.
Spirituality doesn’t teach withdrawal, it talks only about cutting distractions.
Based on your age, you may have different Swa-Dharma. Vishal’s Swa-Dharma is to lead the way, maximise profits and protect the company from competition.
For a student, it is to study earnestly.
For a wife, it may be to keep the family bonded.
For a teacher, it may be to bring the best out of a student.
For a doctor, it may be to ensure health of people.
If you are not doing this, then you are in Adharma. This is what Lord Krishna explained to Arjuna. Before the battle began, Arjuna’s responsibility was to fight the unjust. But, at the wrong time, came the emotion of Compassion. He wanted to avoid the blood bath. For us, he might sound a good person. For Lord Krishna, he was in Adharma! Fighting the unjust was his Swa-Dharma, not compassion.
Step 2 – Develop Vivek
Now, the only thing to take care is that your Swa-Dharma should not be malignant. For Arjuna, if killing only a few opponents would win the war, then don’t kill more – that is the next lesson of Karma Yoga. Staying righteous. Acting with awareness.
Many a times, a larger goal may require some unrighteous acts. Then ensure to minimise it. For example, a trader, whose Swa-Dharma is to earn maximum profits, may loose on margin if he tells his cost price to the customer. So, while negotiating to maintain the margin, rather than boasting false high cost price, don’t say at all. Remain silent. Silence is a better option when truth could be harmful for your Swa-Dharma.
Reduce the unrighteous acts to minimum. If your Swa-Dharma demands it, do it under complete awareness. If your habit urges it, stop. Spirituality teaches you to develop Vivek – an intellectual power to identify right from wrong, to identify need from greed.
Step 3 – Practice Detachment
Detachment is often taken as withdrawal. Sri Guru wonderfully derives in her talk, that detachment doesn’t mean ‘not to attach to your duty’. It simply means to ‘not to attach to the outcome of your duty’. Your duty is your Swa-Dharma, but the result of your duty is governed by many other forces that are in no one’s control.
“Even at SRM,” Sri Guru relates, “only 10% (or even less) people practice what I teach. What if I get attached to my expectation that everyone should follow my words? I would never engross myself into this karma of speaking!”
To excel at your Swa-Dharma, you need to be 100% engrossed into your duties. Expectations about the result will never allow you to engross completely. It will not allow you to excel.
Therefore, Spirituality teaches you ways to excel at your duty. Not withdraw from it. Give your heart and life to your Karma, your Swa-Dharma. No book of religion will ever stop you. “Live your life with full energy!” Declares Sri Guru, as she recalls the vigour of Lord Krishna, the spirited life of Lord Rama, the efforts of Lord Mahaveera, the passion of Lord Buddha…
Today, just start from recognising your Swa-Dharma.
Derived from the Talk by Sri Guru at Annual Meet 2022
